Laura Moore

The Math-A-Thon is about children helping children. We try to educate them about what St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is.

— Laura Moore

Laura Moore has been an educator for 17 years, teaching students from preschool through 12th grade at the University School of Jackson in Jackson, Tennessee. "I grew up in Brownsville, Tennessee and my mother was a teacher," Laura said. "I was inspired by her and from an early age I always said I wanted to be a teacher."

Laura is now a School Counselor, a role she enjoys because she gets to interact with and inspire children across a variety of ages. One of the ways she does that is through a unique Math-A-Thon event held every other year at the school.

Laura coordinates the event, which works much like a "walk-a-thon" but instead of walking, the students do math-based activities for a full day. Parents, friends, and family pledge money to charity in support of the kids' dedication to completing a day of math problems, games, and scavenger hunts.

This year's Math-a-Thon theme was "Dreaming of a Cure," and under Laura's watch, the students raised a record-breaking $78,153 dollars for the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital located in nearby Memphis, Tennessee. Those results come on the heels of more than $66,000 raised in 2013.

"This is about children helping children," Laura said. "We try to educate them about what St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is, and the work they are doing. A lot of fundraising efforts out there include prizes, but I shy away from any prizes. I want them to participate so they can learn about giving, and why it's important, not because you get a prize."

Laura and her husband, Baker, who is joining her on the cruise, have a daughter and a son. In her free time, Laura's children keep her busy with a variety of activities and sporting events they enjoy. She says of her life, "I wouldn't want it any other way!"